Monitor News Bureau
Srinagar, Aug 17: An Army man was killed in an encounter at Kralgund area of Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Friday morning.
An official said that army’s 32 RR launched a cordon-and-search-operation at Kachlu village during wee hours today.
As such the cordon was laid and the troops intensified the searches, the militants opened fire triggering off a brief gunfight, he said.
In the gunfight an army soldier suffered critical bullet wounds and was shifted to nearby military hospital for treatment, he said, adding that the soldier later succumbed to injuries.
An army officer based in north Kashmir also confirmed the death of the soldier and identified the deceased as Rifleman RambabuSahi.
He said that the searches were ongoing in the area to trace out the hiding militants.
“Late Rifleman Ram BabuShahi sustained bullet injury during the gun battle at Kachhlu, Baramulla district. He was provided immediate first aid and evacuated to the 92 Base Hospital, but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries,” an Army spokesman said.
He added that the slain Rifleman was 24 years old and had joined the Army in 2013.
“He belonged to Village Jagatpur of Chitwan District, Nepal and is survived by his wife and a daughter,” the spokesman added.
In another incident, clashes broke out in Hajin area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Friday soon after government forces launched a cordon-and-search-operation (CASO) in the area.
Reports said that a joint team of army’s 13 RR, SOG and CRPF launched a cordon at Mir Mohalla area of Hajin today morning.
A top police officer told GNS that the cordon-and-search operation was launched in the village following specific inputs about the presence of some militants.
“Some gunshots were fired by militants soon after the siege was laid in the area,” he said.
Additional reinforcements of the army have been rushed to the site and the entire area has been cordoned off to trace out the militants hiding in the area, he said.
As the news about the cordon spread, the locals took to streets and pelted the forces with stones. The police and paramilitary forces used tear smoke shells to disperse the youth.
Meanwhile, authorities have suspended the Internet services in parts of Bandipora including Hajin in wake of the search operation at Mir Mohalla.
The services were later restored after forces lifted the cordon following day-long searches in the area.
Civilian killed in grenade attack, woman shot dead in Pulwama
Monitor News Bureau
Srinagar, Aug 17: Unknown gunmen on Friday shot dead a 38-year-old woman in Drabgam village of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Reports said that some unknown persons opened fire on the woman, Shameema, wife of Ali Mohd Bhat near the home of her parents at Drabgam village today afternoon.
Shameema (38), a resident of Koil village, was visiting her parents when she was shot, leaving her injured.
The woman was immediately shifted to a nearby hospital. However, she succumbed on the way, said a police officer, according to GNS news agency.
Soon after the incident, a hunt was launched to nab the assailants, he said.
In another incident, four civilians were injured on Friday afternoon after unknown men lobbed a grenade on the office of the SP Awantipora in South Kashmir.
An official said that unknown men lobbed a grenade on SP Awantipora’s office which exploded outside the main gate, resulting in injuries to four civilians.
Abdul Ahad, one of the injured civilianswas shifted to SMHS Srinagar in a critical condition. He, later, succumbed to his injuries.
